Improved ltjbricatino-oh



iliniwl sam- THOMAS E. MERRICTK, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO Letters Patent No. 91,654, dated Jams 22, 1869.

IIIPROVED LUBRIOATING OIL'IROM PETROLEUM The Schedule referred to in these Letters Patent and making part of the same.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that L'Tuonms E. MERRICK, of the city of Cleveland, in the county of Guyahoga, in the State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in the Manufacture of Kerosene or Petroleum-Oil; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full and exact description thereofi My invention relates to removing, by the process hereinafter set forth,froln petroleum-oil, as the same is. found inv nature, the benzine, gasoline, and other substances of a volatile or inflammable or explosive character, such as are usually found in combination with said oil, and producing therefrom a new article of manufacture, being a non-explosive, non-corrosive lubricating and illuminating oil.

In; order toenahle'othersskilledin the art to make and use my invention, I proceed to describe the process of its production.

The crude petroleum-oil is first passed into the ordinary still used in distilling such oil, wherein it is distilled until the gravity is reduced from about fortyfive (45) to any gravity between thirty-five (35) and twenty-five Baum, after which it passes into a round or square vessel, cased on the inside with lead, and water-tight, having a concave or inverted conical bottom, with a faucet at the lowest point of the outside thereof. This vessel is usually known as an agitator. When in the agitator, the now partiallyfdistilled oil is vigorously stirred by a blower or paddlewheel for the space of about thirty minutes.

While the oil is thus being stirred, sulphuric acidthe oil of vitriol of commerce-in the proportion of about one (1) part of sulphuric acid to sixty parts of oil, is placed in it. This proportion may be slightly varied, to suit the temperature of the oil or 'the atmosphere. I

By the vigorous action of the agitator, the acid and oil are brought into constant and complete contact, and the former, acting upon the impurities in' the latter, forms a precipitate, which sinks to the bottom of the agitator, in the nature of a residuum usually known as petroleum-tar. I

After being thus stirred, the combined oil and acid is allowed to remain, in an undisturbed state, in the agitator for from six (6) to twenty-four (24) hours, according to the temperature of the oil, or the temperature or moisture of the atmosphere, since, when the combination is warm, the acid acts with more rapidity than when the combination is cold; and when the at mosphere is cold or damp, a longer time is required in the deposit ofthe petroleum-tar being effected. While being thus operated, the combined acid and oil should be kept at a temperature of from sixty (60) to eighty degrees Fahrenheit.

When the petroleum-taris deposited, as aforesaid, it is drawn off by the faucet in the bottom of the agitator.

Water, heated to one hundred and ten or one hundred .and twenty degrees Fahrenheit, is then poured down the sides of the agitator, without disturbing the combined acid and oil, and by this means all trace of the acid is removed. The water, with whatever impurities it may contain, is then drawn, off by the same faucet through which the petroleum-tar was.

An alkali, made from caustic sodaor soda-ash, in about the proportion of one (1) part of alkali to fortyeight (48) parts of oil, the oil being again agitated, is placed in it, and the agitation is continued for from three (3) to five (5) minutes, when a large quantity of water is thrown upon the combined oil and alkali,

and a slow agitation is kept up until the oil assumes an amber color. Tire water is then drawn oil as before, and the oil is conveyed to settling-tubs, containing a worm filled with dry steam, which keeps the oil at an even temperature of about one hundred (100) degrees until it becomes clear, when it is ready for market.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The process of first removing by distillation the lighter products of crude petroleum-oil, until the gravity is reduced to any gravity between thirty-five (35) and twenty-five (25) Baume, and then treating it with sulphuric acid, hot water, alkali of caustic soda or sodaash, and water, in the proportions and manner substantially as described.

2. The oil produced by said process, asanew article of manufacture.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing improvement in the manufacture of kerosene or petroleumoil, as well as in the oil, as above described, I have hereunto set my band and seal this 3d day of J one,

THOS. E. MERRIOK. [1,. s.]

Witnesses:

DANL. WALDRON, EDM. F. BROWN. 

